Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010857210500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

Strike hits power supply in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

Thermal power stations come to a standstill
Major disruption in the supply of gas

JAIPUR: Power production at Anta, Dholpur and other thermal power stations in Rajasthan came to a standstill on Wednesday following disruption in gas supply as a result of the strike by oil sector officers.

This led to an immediate decline of 1.5 crore units in the availability of electricity across the State.

According to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam sources here, there was an additional reduction of 55 lakh units with five units of the Singrauli thermal power project being shut down.

The three public sector power discoms in the State curtailed power supply to the 33 KV feeders for a few hours to arrange for sufficient electricity for farmers.

Against the average availability of 11.75 crore units of electricity a day in the State, the demand during the ongoing rabi crop season has touched 12.35 crore units per day.

The State has been overdrawing power from the Northern Grid during the past few days to meet the additional demand. Sources said the overdrawing was not feasible now in the wake of decline in the grid frequency and risk to the safety of power infrastructure.

The desert State’s share of about 30 lakh units in Anta, Oraiya and Dadri is also not available because of a sharp decline in production by these power plants. Sources said the present situation had led to a reduction of 650 MW in the availability of power in the State.

The strike call by officers of 13 oil PSUs to press for a wage hike has led to a shutdown of gas supplies from the country’s largest fields and cutting of output at key refineries.